Recording medium post-processing apparatus, image forming system and post-processing method

Abstract

The recording medium post-processing apparatus is provided with: a recording-medium collecting member that collects plural recording mediums transported from outside as a recording-medium bundle; a stitching unit that stitches the recording mediums having: a supporting portion which supports the recording-medium bundle transported from the recording-medium collecting member; and a stapler portion which pushes a stitching needle into the supported recording-medium bundle; and a recording-medium bundle stacking member that is arranged below the stitching unit and stacks the recording-medium bundle stitched by the stitching unit in a vertical direction. The supporting portion and the stapler portion of the stitching unit are moved outside a position at one edge portion of the recording-medium bundle when the recording-medium bundle is not stitched.

1. A recording medium post-processing apparatus comprising:
 a recording-medium collecting member that collects a plurality of recording mediums transported from outside as a recording-medium bundle; 
 a stitching unit that stitches the recording-medium bundle having:
 a supporting portion that supports the recording-medium bundle transported from the recording-medium collecting member; and 
 a stapler portion that pushes a stitching needle into the supported recording-medium bundle; and 
 
 a recording-medium bundle stacking member that is arranged directly below the stitching unit and stacks the recording-medium bundle stitched by the stitching unit, the supporting portion and the stapler portion of the stitching unit being moved outside a position at one edge portion of the recording-medium bundle when the recording-medium bundle is not stitched. 
 
     
     
       2. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting portion and the stapler portion of the stitching unit are held so as to be suspended from above. 
     
     
       3. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the stitching unit further comprises a holding portion that holds the supporting portion and the stapler portion from above and that moves the supporting portion and the stapler portion outside the position at the one edge portion of the recording-medium bundle. 
     
     
       4. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting portion includes a tray support on each of a right side and a left side of the recording-medium bundle and the stapler portion includes a staple head on each of the right side and the left side of the recording medium, and the tray support on each of the right side and the left side of the recording-medium bundle and the staple head on each of the right side and the left side of the recording medium are configured to move away from a corresponding edge of the recording-medium bundle in a width direction of the recording-medium bundle. 
     
     
       5. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the stitching unit further comprises base portions that function as a base when the stitching needle of the stapler portion is pushed and that are arranged on a right side and a left side with respect to a central portion in a width direction of the recording-medium bundle, and the base portions are configured to move away from a corresponding edge of the recording-medium bundle in a width direction of the recording-medium bundle. 
     
     
       6. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the stapler portion of the stitching unit comprises a recording-medium bundle supporting member that supports the recording-medium bundle, and the recording-medium bundle supporting member is moved in a direction of the stapler portion when the stapler portion is moved outside the position at the one edge portion of the recording-medium bundle. 
     
     
       7. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the one edge portion of the recording medium is an edge on the longest side of the recording medium. 
     
     
       8. The recording medium post-processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the stitching unit stitches a central portion in a width direction of the recording medium bundle. 
     
     
       9. An image forming system comprising:
 an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium; and 
 a recording medium post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing for the recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming apparatus, 
 the recording medium post-processing apparatus comprising:
 a recording-medium collecting member that collects, as a recording-medium bundle, a plurality of recording mediums on which the image is formed and that is transported from the image forming apparatus; 
 a stitching unit that stitches the recording-medium bundle having:
 a supporting portion that supports the recording-medium bundle transported from the recording-medium collecting member; and 
 a stapler portion that pushes a stitching needle into the supported recording-medium bundle; and 
 
 a recording-medium bundle stacking member that is arranged directly below the stitching unit and stacks the recording-medium bundle stitched by the stitching unit, the supporting portion and the stapler portion of the stitching unit being moved outside a position at one edge portion of the recording-medium bundle when the recording-medium bundle is not stitched. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The image forming system according to  claim 9 , wherein the supporting portion and the stapler portion of the stitching unit are held so as to be suspended from above. 
     
     
       11. The image forming system according to  claim 9 , wherein the supporting portion includes a tray support on each of a right side and a left side of the recording-medium bundle and the stapler portion includes a staple head on each of the right side and the left side of the recording medium, and the tray support on each of the right side and the left side of the recording-medium bundle and the staple head on each of the right side and the left side of the recording medium are configured to move away from a corresponding edge of the recording-medium bundle in a width direction of the recording-medium bundle. 
     
     
       12. The image forming system according to  claim 9 , wherein the stapler portion of the stitching unit comprises a recording-medium bundle supporting member that supports the recording-medium bundle, and the recording-medium bundle supporting member is moved in a direction of the stapler portion when the stapler portion is moved outside the position at the one edge portion of the recording-medium bundle. 
     
     
       13. The image forming system according to  claim 9 , wherein the one edge portion of the recording medium is an edge on the longest side of the recording medium. 
     
     
       14. A post-processing method comprising:
 collecting a plurality of recording mediums transported from outside as a recording-medium bundle on a recording-medium collecting member; 
 moving a supporting portion that supports the recording-medium bundle transported from the recording-medium collecting member and a stapler portion that pushes a stitching needle into the supported recording-medium bundle, from an outside of a position at one edge portion of the recording-medium bundle to the position at the one edge portion of the recording-medium bundle; 
 transporting the recording-medium bundle to the supporting portion that supports the recording-medium bundle and is suspended from above; 
 stitching the recording-medium bundle by using the stapler portion that pushes the stitching needle into the recording-medium bundle and is suspended from above the recording medium; and 
 stacking the stitched recording-medium bundle on a recording-medium bundle stacking member, 
 wherein the recording-medium bundle stacking member is disposed directly below the stapler portion. 
 
     
     
       15. The post-processing method according to  claim 14 , further comprising moving the supporting portion and the stapler portion to the outside of the position at the one edge portion of the recording-medium bundle after the process of stitching the recording-medium bundle. 
     
     
       16. The post-processing method according to  claim 14 , wherein the supporting portion and the stapler portion of a stitching unit are held so as to be suspended from above.